Playing the Baby Tomato Game!

Which is playing catch up on the blog! We got massive snow in the beginning of December multiple times, it just kept on coming! We had a blast playing in it, until it got cold! The snow is still all over the place today! I can't believe we got so much this early and it's hung around like it has. I love the snow.

My last year in my 20's...

Oh my.....I am 29. That's a big number. A scary one too. Didn't I just turn 24? I'm sure I did, that's not such a big number.

I had a great birthday, the best one I can remember in a while. (I can't remember too far back anyway.) It snowed all day making everything so beautiful, I had Josh and my kids celebrating with me, I got to celebrate Peyton's little successes in kindergarten, I picked out some fine things for myself that Josh wrapped up for the fun of opening them even though I knew what they were. It was a fine day.

I started thinking though... am I where I always thought I would be at 29? In some ways yes, and in some ways no. But I know that I am so glad to have what I have right now. I spent a lot of time in the past couple of years thinking about what I didn't have and what I thought I deserved and what I thought I was owed. Well I learned my lesson. I'm not consistently greatful for what I have but I get little reminders all the time nudging me along to look at the greater picture and see, really see how lucky I am. I think I have a gift to see the positive in most things, I really do. I am proud of myself for that. When we were going through the hardest thing in our life up to this point, I still was able to recognize the "tender mercies". I am grateful for my life, for my husband, my children, my family, my friends, my supports, my home, and anyone that makes me laugh. I'm thankful for a wonderful year, and hope for another one. Here's to my 30's! (Well, not yet.)

Kids Fun

Josh-"Kids, don't tell mommy her presents are here. If she starts looking around tell her to stop looking!"

Kids-"Okay!"

Kids-"Mommy don't look around for you presents!"

Me, walking away...

Paige-"Mommy don't look under the coffee table!"

Me, looking...

Paige-"NO! Don't look under there!!"

Peyton-"Paige, you are the worst secret teller ever!"

Hello Snow!

Finally we got our snow! And boy did it come with a vengeance!

Thanksgiving in Mesa

Every year we spend Thanksgiving in Mesa with the Piercy family since we moved to Show Low. I love the long weekend that we're able to spend with my family. We had great food of course and did some shopping. Paige and I went to see Ballet Etudes' The Nutcracker again and loved it! I always look forward to going backstage and seeing Kellan and Sharon and everybody else. The kids and I also went to see the Temple lights again and they were beautiful.

Paige and me with Lauren as Sugar Plum Fairy.

Paige loved the part where the Mouse King (Kellan) got stuck in the mouse trap.

Some of 2nd Act cast.

Halloween 2011

Here's some random shots of our Halloween:

Friends

It's good to have friends wherever you are. When we moved to Show Low I left a lot of good friends from church. We were always having lunch parties at each others homes, play dates at the park and girls night out. I don't really do that anymore now that I live here. I get the occasional play date, but I haven't really had a girls night out since moving here 2 years ago. That's a sad thing, I know. I really miss those.

But I was so lucky to meet someone who I consider my best friend. That sounds silly to me like when your a little girl and you have your one true best friend (or bosom buddy, which is what I had growing up) but I really feel like Becky and I were always meant to meet and become friends. We are so much the same person. On top of that our kids are the same ages and they seem to be best friends as well! It's not often we spend more than 2 days apart from each other but when we do the kids reunite like it's been years! Here are a couple of sweet moments I wanted to remember of the kids at the park. They are taken from pretty far away because Becky and I just talk the whole time and try to keep one eye out for the kids the whole time.

The three girls.

The four of them.